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Tourism & short stayPublishedInformational impactVerified

U.S. State Department Issues Level 1 Travel Advisory for Sint Maarten: Exercise Normal Precautions

🇺🇸 United StatesTravel Advisories1 recorded versionLast change 26 Aug 2026
ConfidenceVery high · 100%

Current rules

The U.S. State Department advises U.S. citizens to exercise normal precautions when travelling to Sint Maarten. While generally a safe destination, petty crime is common in tourist areas. Travellers should be aware of their surroundings and potential opportunistic crimes such as theft of unsecured property or vehicle break-ins. Overcharges and scams, along with aggressive vendors, may be encountered in tourist areas. Armed robberies occur at businesses involved in drug or gang activities, or those storing large amounts of cash. Bringing guns, ammunition, or even spent shells or casings into Sint Maarten without prior written authorisation is illegal and can lead to arrest and lengthy detention. Tourist police are available at most sites for assistance.

Overview

The U.S. State Department has issued a Level 1 Travel Advisory for Sint Maarten. This advisory, effective immediately, details common risks including petty crime, scams, and aggressive vendors, while reiterating the prohibition of firearms and ammunition. This marks the first detailed public advisory for the destination from the State Department.

Who is affected by the latest change

  • U.S. citizens travelling to Sint Maarten
  • U.S. citizens considering tourism or short-term visits
  • U.S. citizens already in Sint Maarten
  • Travellers who use U.S. government travel-safety information when planning trips

What changed in the latest version

Before

Before this, the U.S. Department of State already gave Sint Maarten a Level 1 classification. This meant 'Exercise Normal Precautions'.

After

The U.S. State Department tells U.S. citizens to take normal precautions when they travel to Sint Maarten. The country is generally a safe place. But, petty crime is common in tourist areas. Travellers should be aware of what is happening around them. They should watch out for crimes of opportunity. These include theft of property that is not secured. They also include vehicle break-ins. Travellers might experience being overcharged, scams, and aggressive sellers in tourist areas. Armed robberies happen at businesses linked to drug or gang activities. They also happen at businesses that store a lot of cash. It is against the law to bring guns, ammunition, or even spent bullet casings into Sint Maarten. You must have written permission first. If you do not, you can be arrested and held for a long time. Tourist police are available for help at most places.

This advisory is very important for U.S. citizens planning trips to Sint Maarten. It gives specific safety advice. This advice goes beyond general travel precautions. Travellers must now be especially careful about petty crime in tourist areas. They must also know the strict rules about guns and ammunition. Breaking these rules can lead to serious legal penalties. The information about possible scams and aggressive sellers helps travellers prepare for common problems. These problems might affect their trip. Employers sending staff to Sint Maarten must make sure their employees know these specific risks and legal rules.

Explained simply

Imagine you're going on holiday to Sint Maarten. The U.S. government is essentially saying it's generally a safe place, like going to a busy city centre at home, but you should still be sensible. Keep an eye on your phone and wallet, especially where lots of tourists gather, just in case of pickpockets. Watch out for people trying to overcharge you or trick you. And seriously, don't bring any guns or even empty bullet casings, as you could get into big trouble and even be locked up for a long time.

Frequently asked

Version history

  1. v70Effective 24 Aug 2026PublishedInformational impact
    U.S. State Department Issues Level 1 Travel Advisory for Sint Maarten: Exercise Normal Precautions

    The U.S. State Department has issued a Level 1 Travel Advisory for Sint Maarten. This means people travelling there should 'Exercise Normal Precautions'. Sint Maarten is generally safe. However, petty crime often happens in tourist areas. This includes theft of property that is not secured. It also includes vehicle break-ins. Travellers might also experience being overcharged, scams, and aggressive sellers in these areas. The advisory specifically warns against bringing guns, ammunition, or spent bullet casings into Sint Maarten. You must have written permission first. If you do not, you can be arrested and held for a long time. Tourist police are available for help at most places.

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